Uploaded April 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
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I was on one of my regular cycling routes a couple of days ago but this season is special. Look at these beautiful sakura flowers fully blooming. These cherry trees are lined for miles and miles. Pedaling through it is just stunning. Enjoy the ride!
Music:
Lights by Sappheiros soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/LightsSappheiros
Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/-lbbHQbZNKg
#sakura #japan #cycling
Instagram: instagram.com/koji_planet_tokyo
Twitter: twitter.com/kj_planet_tokyo
I was on one of my regular cycling routes a couple of days ago but this season is special. Look at these beautiful sakura flowers fully blooming. These cherry trees are lined for miles and miles. Pedaling through it is just stunning. Enjoy the ride!
Music:
Lights by Sappheiros soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/LightsSappheiros
Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/-lbbHQbZNKg
#sakura #japan #cycling
![Hagoita-Ichi (Japanese Battledore Fair) at Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mfOYVoHH16M/mqdefault.jpg "Hagoita-Ichi (Japanese Battledore Fair) at Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
Hagoita, or Japanese battledores, are a traditional new years toy which has been popular among young girls. It used to be a common sight to see kids playing with them on a street during new years days. It is, however, now becoming rare to come across the scenery in urban areas.
Hagoita also often serve as ornaments. At Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo, Hagoita Fair is held every December 17th to 19th. The precincts of Tokyos oldest temple are filled with numerous stalls serving beautifully decorated hagoita. It is very enjoyable to search for your favorite one among their many varieties.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Dec. 19th, 2012")
![Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport) [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nIXIH2mIK4s/mqdefault.jpg "Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport) [iPhone 4S/HD]
Tokyo area has two major airports. One is Narita Airport and the other is Tokyo International Airport, which is usually called Haneda Airport.
Haneda Airport has been mainly handling domestic flights since Narita Airport, which was initially named New Tokyo International Airport, opened in 1978. However, Narita Airport is located about 60 km away from central Tokyo and not available for takeoffs and landings during the night. The airport is not very accessible or convenient for a lot of travelers.
In the 1990s, the government planned to redevelop Haneda Airport as one of the main international airports in the Tokyo area. It is located beside central Tokyo and is able to handle flights 24 hours a day. A dedicated international terminal was finally opened in 2010.
The terminal has brand new facilities including a unique shopping mall. The mall mocks the streetscape of the Edo Period, which lasted from the begining of 17th century to the middle of 19th century. You can enjoy shopping and meals in the atmosphere of old Japan while waiting for your flight.
Haneda Airport is the 5th busiest airport in the world. Planes take off and land every 2 minutes during rush hour for its large number of domestic flights, while it currently handles only a few international flights. The full-scale operation of international flights at Haneda has just begun. The more advanced development of runways and surrounding facilities is needed urgently.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Sep. 18th, 2012")
![Mochitsuki ~How to Make Mochi, or Japanese Rice Cake~ [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nnuw2kKcyxE/mqdefault.jpg "Mochitsuki ~How to Make Mochi, or Japanese Rice Cake~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
I came across a small festival while strolling around my neighborhood on a sunny Sunday. I found a stall selling freshly-made mochi there.
Mochi are Japanese rice cakes, which are made by pounding boiled glutinous rice into paste. The process of making mochi is called mochitsuki, which is usually (but not always) held as a year-end ceremony. People once enjoyed mochitsuki at their home, although nowadays it is not very common especially in urban areas. I remember, when I was a kid, my relatives used to gather at my grandfathers home and enjoy mochitsuki together every year-end.
Family mochitsuki is becoming a thing of the past, but it is still popular as an act of festivals and events.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Oct. 21st, 2012")
![Handkerchief Art Project in Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o1uhS-Aa8Ro/mqdefault.jpg "Handkerchief Art Project in Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
While strolling around my neighborhood, I found that this exhibition titled; Handkerchief Art Project was taking place at the Citizens Gallery. The description signboard was saying that an art professor asked people to paint pictures on white handkerchiefs, which he gathered together and made the exhibition using them. Oh my goodness; I didnt know this project had been going on! I shouldve joined it!
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 24th, 2012")
![Local Mikoshi Festival at Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oOZdnchuUoQ/mqdefault.jpg "Local Mikoshi Festival at Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
Numerous matsuri, or Shinto festivals, take place during summer to autumn in Japan. Usually they are held at a Shinto shrine to welcome Shinto gods who are related to the community and ask them for prosperity and good harvests. Many of the festivals have mikoshi parades in which people march through a town with carrying mikoshi, or portable Shinto shrines.
The mikoshi festival was also held at a shrine near my place on the national holiday, Marine Day. People gathered and paraded ebulliently although it was a pretty hot and humid day.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 16th, 2012")
